Scholion. Sorrow and Purpose Regarding Venial Sins

I. If someone confesses venial sins together with a mortal sin, he receives the sacrament validly and fruitfully, even if sorrow and purpose comprehend only the mortal sin.

II. If someone confesses only venial sins, sorrow and purpose must enjoy the same properties as sorrow and purpose concerning mortal sins, except the property of universality (St. Thomas, 3 p., question 87, article 1, ad 1; St. Alphonsus, VI, 449, 451). This is not required, because one venial sin can be remitted without another. Therefore sorrow and purpose suffice:

1. Concerning all the venial sins which someone confesses.

2. Concerning some or one of those which he confesses, as follows:

a) Concerning only those fully deliberate, because someone can detest the greater malice without detesting the lesser (St. Thomas, at the cited place; St. Alphonsus, at the cited place).

b) Concerning only venial sins of a determined species, because we can detest one baseness without detesting another different from it (St. Thomas, at the cited place; St. Alphonsus, at the cited place).

3. Concerning the multitude or frequency of venial sins. Some teach absolutely that this suffices, but they suppose that then one grieves concerning determined sins, namely at least concerning the later ones, which constitute the multitude. Finally, others admit this as regards semi-deliberate sins, but not as regards fully deliberate sins (cf. St. Alphonsus, VI, at the cited place, and Praxis Confessarii, n. 71). St. Thomas declares that the purpose "of preparing oneself for diminishing venial sins" suffices (3 p., question 87, article 1, ad 1).

III. Sorrow - which I note for the sake of completeness - which according to what has just been explained does not extend itself to all venial sins, cannot be perfect contrition concerning some venial sin, because perfect contrition concerning one venial sin necessarily extends itself to all venial sins, as was explained in n. 284.

Corollary I. One who confesses only venial sins concerning which he does not grieve sins gravely, because the sacrament is rendered invalid. But one who, with the value of the sacrament preserved, confesses venial sins without sorrow sins only venially; for grave irreverence is not found in this (St. Alphonsus, VI, 449, doubt 1).

Corollary II. Penitents who are accustomed to commit only venial sins should be advised to add a mortal sin, if they have committed one before, or a more serious venial sin of their past life (St. Alphonsus, Praxis Confessarii, nn. 71, 99, 188).